These Are The Only Sites That Matter

So you want to know where to place your time and attention when it comes to local search. Who doesn’t? Problem is, it’s different for every business and it’s different for every community where your business is located. Fortunately, finding the sites that do the best job of promoting your business is easy to do. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Google

Start by doing a search on Google (just as a potential customer would do) to find your business. I’m not suggesting that you search for “Dollies Gourmet Pizza,” but rather, “Pizza Kihei.” (Product/Service + Location)

Look at the results. Who comes up first, second, third etc.? These are the sites where you need to be listed. These are the sites where you need to focus your attention. In this example the results are as follows:
* Google Represents 65% of all searches

1. Google Maps
2. Local.Yahoo.com
3. Yelp
4. Yelp
5. TripAdvisor.com
6. Matteospizzeria.com
7. Urbanspoon.com
8. IAF.net
9. Citysearch.com
10. Switchboard.com

2. Yahoo!

Next, do the same search on Yahoo! Here are the results for Yahoo!
* Yahoo Represents 19.6% of all searches

1. Local.Yahoo.com
2. Local.yahoo.com
3. Local.yahoo.com
4. Yelp.com
5. Yelp.com
6. Shakapizza.com
7. TripAdvisor.com
8. Maui.CitySearch.com
9. JustClickLocal.com
10. Travel.yahoo.com

3. Bing

And then do your final search on Bing. Here are the results for Bing.
* Bing Represents 8.4% of all searches

1. Bing.com/local.com
2. Yelp.com
3. Local.yahoo.com
4. TripAdvisor.com
5. Local.yahoo.com
6. Kiheihi.web.aloha.com
7. TripAdvisor.com
8. Yelp.com
9. TripAdvisor.com
10. Travel.Yahoo.com

Based on my findings in the three largest search engines (and knowing that Google represents the lions share of the searches) here are the top five sites where I would focus my local search attention if I owned a pizza shop in Kihei.

1. Google Maps
2. Local.Yahoo.com
3. Yelp.com
4. Bing.com/Local
5. TripAdvisor.com

Now you know exactly what customers are finding on the Internet when they search for “pizza Kihei.”

What are the top five results for your business? Do a similar search on Google, Yahoo! and Bing and see what your customers are seeing.

• Is your business listed on those sites?
• Is your business listed on the first page of those sites?
• Is your business listed at the top of the first page of those sites?
• Do you have an optimized and compelling business listing on those sites?

This simple experiment will show you the sites where you need to spend your time and attention. Don’t let anyone try to persuade you otherwise.